The hockey community saluted one of its own Thursday night at the TD Garden, Wicked Local reported.

The Boston Bruins paid tribute to injured Marblehead native and Boston Pride hockey player Denna Laing, during a special pregame ceremony, Jan. 21. The festivities included a touching video montage, followed by Denna’s two sisters, Brianna Laing and Lexie Laing, dropping the ceremonial first puck.

Advertisement

Although she couldn’t attend the game, Laing was able to address the sellout crowd of 17,565 via a live Internet feed shown on the Garden HDX jumbotron.

Sporting a neck brace and draped in a Boston Bruins No. 24 home jersey -- a gift given to her by Bruins Team Captain Zdeno Chara during a surprise visit to Mass General Hospital, Jan. 20 -- Laing appeared beaming and upbeat.

“Hi this is Denna,” said Laing. “I’m wishing I could be with you at the game tonight, but I wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the love, support and prayers, you’ve been sending my way.”

“I wanted to thank the NHL, the Bruins and the Canadiens organizations for their incredible generosity and kindness,” she added. “I have a lot of hard work in front of me, but I’ve never been afraid of a challenge. And as Z [Chara] told me, never, never give up.”

Laing ended the feed raising her left arm.

“Go Bruins!” she said, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

A forward for the NWHL Boston Pride, Laing became worldwide news after she left the ice on a stretcher during the Outdoor Women’s Winter Classic game at Gillette Stadium, Dec. 31. Laing, 24, was carted off the ice after falling heavily into the end boards during the first period of her team’s exhibition game against their counterparts out of the CWHL, Les Canadiennes.

Trailing 1-0, the Pride were attempting a comeback when Laing was suddenly tripped up while skating behind Canadiennes goalie Charline Labonte. The 5-foot-8 forward appeared to hit the boards face-first, and remained in a prone position, as both team’s trainers rushed to her aid. She was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital. One week later it was revealed that she suffered a significant spinal cord injury and had limited movement of her arms, and no feeling in her legs.

According to Boston Pride Coach Bobby Jay, the rink conditions at Gillette were not a factor.

“I don’t think the ice was an issue at all,” said Jay, at the time of the injury. “It was just a hockey play, the puck was going into the corner. She stepped on a stick, and just lost her footing a little.”

The heartfelt emotions behind Thursday’s pregame ceremony were felt clear across the ice to the Bruins bench.

“It was awesome,” said forward Jimmy Hayes. “Seeing her on the Internet and to be able to [honor] her and have everyone recognize her was great. Her spirits were so high and positive. The hockey community is a big family, and it’s great to be part of that.”

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask echoed those sentiments, noting a similar pregame salute during their last road game against the Canadiens, Jan. 19.

“It was the same [reaction] in Montreal,” said Rask. “I think it’s a good thing that the league and the team’s are aware and paying tribute to her, because it was a freak accident. We’re doing everything we can to help her out, and hopefully everything turns out for the best.”

Thursday’s fundraising tribute was the latest endeavor designed to raise awareness and help Laing on the road to recovery.

Last week, the Jacobs Family, the Boston Bruins, the Boston Bruins Foundation and the TD Garden, pledged a minimum donation of $200,000 to support Laing in that effort.

According to Bruins center Ryan Spooner, when an injury like that happens, it puts everything into a totally new perspective. The forward recalled a similar accident that occurred in Shawville, Quebec in 2013, when 19-year old Junior B hockey player, Brett Nugent, crashed into the boards. His injury left him paralyzed from the neck down.

“It doesn’t feel good whenever you see that happen,” said Spooner. “Because you think that could be me, and how rough that would be for my family and my friends.”

If anything, Spooner and the rest of the Bruins can take some solace from Laing’s positive attitude.

“She seems to be in good spirits,” Spooner said. “I hope for the best. I hope she feels a lot better soon, that’s for sure.”